Kensington Conservatives have chosen a former cabinet member to replace the outgoing leader of the local authority at the centre of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Elizabeth Campbell will be put forward to take over from Nicholas Paget-Brown, who resigned on Friday, and lead the embattled Kensington and Chelsea Council.

Mr Paget-Brown stepped down amid fierce criticism of the council’s response to the Grenfell tragedy, in which at least 80 people died nearly three weeks ago.

Elizabeth Campbell will take over as leader of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council (RBKC/PA)
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He said: “I will give her a couple of days. I have questions for her, particularly around what her housing policy is going to be.

“We will see if she’s able to engage and try and win the confidence of the people of north Kensington – that’s going to be a tall order.

“If she can’t do it, I’m sure the Government will move in commissioners. I think that the situation is bad enough, she’s got to get a grip and she’s got to get a grip quickly.”

Mr Atkinson said Ms Campbell had recently taken a leave of absence and had returned to “take the poison chalice”.

But he added: “She’s not one of the un-empathetic males that have made such a mess of it, she does have a bit more human understanding.”